Congo's Minerals: "the new blood diamonds"

Similar to the blood diamonds of Sierra Leone, consumer purchases of cell phones, laptops, and iPods continue to fund the deadly conflict in eastern Congo. Every day, Congolese civilians are victims of murder, rape, and other forms of violence.

            5.4 million people have died since 1998

            200,000 women and girls have been raped and sexually assaulted since 2006

For over ten years, electronics companies and consumers have continued to indirectly fund the atrocities in the Congo by playing a key role in the illicit trade of minerals. Congo is rich in many valuable minerals, including tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold, all of which are core ingredients of our everyday electronics. As a result, the minerals that are exported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo go through a transport chain, and ultimately end up in our hands in the form of cell phones, laptops, iPods, and others.

The armed groups of Congo, which are responsible for the mass atrocities in the region, control 12 of the 13 major mines in eastern Congo. Thus, these armed groups are generating about $185 million in annual profits due to the illicit mineral trade, which is allowing them to purchase more and more weapons and continue their operation of violence against civilians. Over 5.4 million Congolese have died in what has been called the deadliest war since WWII.

How can we stop funding the atrocities in the Congo?
We understand that to stop using electronics is an unrealistic expectation, but that doesn't mean that we are powerless to act. Please take a minute to sign this petition to tell our electronics suppliers, Apple, Dell, and LG, to:

      1. Trace the sources of their minerals

     2. Release independent audits to track their supply chain

     3. Stop purchasing conflict minerals, and instead buy their resources from countries that aren't committing mass atrocities

Congo's conflict minerals make up a minority of the world's resources. Thus, electronics companies can realistically purchase their minerals from other countries, such as Thailand and Australia, without damaging their business. 

For more information on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, go to:
http://www.enoughproject.org/
http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/
http://www.standnow.org/

Works Cited:

5M dead as Congo peace deal signed. CNN, 23 Jan. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.       .

Can You Hear Congo Now? The Enough Project, 1 Apr. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. .

A Comprehensive Approach to Congo's Minerals. The Enough Project, 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. .

From Mine to Mobile. The Enough Project, 10 Nov. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. .